Machine for stretching wire mattresses



H 8 v 8 h s W e 8 h S 2 R E S S 0 R P T T a d 0 W Machine for Stretching Wire Mattrass'es. No. 231,091.

' Patented Aug. 10,1880.

N PETERS, PHOTO LTHOGRAPN (ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T; T. PROSSER.

Machine for Stretching Wire Mattfasses.

No. 231,091. Patented Aug. 10,1880.

NFETERS, PHDTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D. C-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

TREAT T. PROSSER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR STRETCHING WIRE MATTRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,091, dated August 10, 1880. Application filed May 6, 1880. intact To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TREAT T. Pnossnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Ohicago, in the county of Oookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Stretching Wire Mattresses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for stretching the woven-wire fabric of wire mattresses to the proper tension, and to hold it in such stretched condition while the frame of the mattress is being put together.

To this end the invention consists of the combination of a fixed frame and a sliding frame so constructed that the bar to which the strands are secured at one end of the fabric may be engaged by suitable cleats or other devices on the fixed frame, and that the bar at the other end of the fabric may be similarly engaged by the sliding frame, by moving which the fabric can then be stretched.

It further consists in providing the fixed frame with laterally-projecting stands for the support of the side rails, to be applied to complete the frame of the woven-wire mattress after the latter has been properly stretched.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated in the annexed drawings, and will proceed to describe the best form thereof at present known to me, with the understanding that the details of construction may be varied according to circumstances or the views of users.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine, showing the woven-wire fabric stretched upon it and a side rail supported upon the lateral stands of the machine in readiness to be lifted and bolted to the end bars of the fabric. For the sake of perspicuity only two strands of the fabric are shown. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the machine. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, showing the hinged flaps of the lateral stands turned up and sup porting one of the side rails of the mattressframe.

The same letters of reference are used in all the figures to indicate identical parts.

The stationary frame A is fixed on the top of and supported upon a strong frame-work of wood, and is at one end provided with a pair of cleats, a a, adapted to engage one of the end bars of the woven-wire-mattress fabric. This frame A is of somewhat less width than the woven-wire fabric, so that when it is applied to or hooked. under the cleats by one of its end bars such end bar shall project laterally beyond the frame A far enough to admit of the application of the side rails of the mattress while the fabric remains stretched on the machine.

A movable frame, B, is fitted between the side rails of the fixed frame A, and supported by cross-bars in guides formed by the side rails of the frame A and by the upper longitudinal timbers, O, of the main frame-work. The movable frame is provided at the end farthest removed from the cleats on the stationary frame A with a pair of cleats, b b, pointing in a direction opposite to the cleats a a, and adapted to engage the other end bar of the woven-wire fabric;

The movable frame is operated preferably by means of a screw, D, swiveled in the end bar of the stationary frame A, and turning in a nut, B, fixed to the movable frame. The movable frame is preferably trussed, as indicated in Fig. 1.

On each side lateral stands E E are connected to or constructed on the main frame work of the machine, upon which lateral stands the side rails of the mattress may be supported preparatory to bolting them to the end bars of the mattress. The stands are provided with hinged flaps or lifters E, adapted to lift the rails and support them at the proper height for bolting them to the end bars of the stretched woven-wire fabric.

The holding-cleats on the movable and stationary frames should be formed to hold the end bars of the fabric firmly in the position which it is intended they should occupy with relation to the wire fabric and the side rails. Different styles of cleats will necessarily have to be employed for different styles of mattresses.

It is obvious that levers or gearing may be used to operate the sliding frame, instead of 3. In a machine for stretching woven-wire mattresses, the combination, substantially as before set forth, of the stationary frame provided with holding-cleats, the movable frame provided with similar holding-cleats, and the 20 lateral stands for supporting the side rails of the mattress.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TREAT T. PROSSER.

Witnesses H. B. PROSSER. H. W. ANDERSON. 

